Better Get Crackin' Only A Few Tix Left For Saturday

About 150 tickets remain for Saturday's game against Syracuse at Rentschler Field. Looks like that one is going to be a sellout. Good deal.

- Watched the UConn-ND game on DVD a couple of times last night and have a few quick observations:

First it is a must have for any and all UConn football fans. I don't know where'd you get them though.

If you really want to put in perspective how impressive the win was for the UConn program think about the scout teams UConn and Notre Dame go against. One of the programs goes against four and five star recruits - on the scout team - every day.

The other?...

Andre Dxon is going to get a shot to play in the NFL. He should. He'd be a great kickoff or punt returner to start wouldn't he?

Anthony Davis is a beast at blocking and he had great ones on Dixon's game-winning score and Jordan Todman's 96-yard kickoff return (so did a bunch of other people).

Jordan Todman is no joke and teams better start taking him serious from now on. That kid looked like a star at of all places, Notre Dame Stadium, on national TV. Only a sophomore.

UConn put on a rushing clinic against the Irish.

Lawrence Wilson was all over the place.

Blidi Wreh-Wilson and Dwayne Gratz are going to be really, really good corners.

A Notre Dame male cheerleader got a little feisty after the Dixon game-winner and as the Huskies celebration moved in their director he angrily began nudging the players away. Poor sportsmanship there.

The halftime feature on Jazz was good.

I'm becoming more impressed with Randy Edsall's interviews on the national stage.

The UConn fans represented. They were loud.

OK, one weapon you may not have expected the Huskies to have in their arsenal would be the tight end position.

This young man Ryan Griffin has been big for the Huskies because he is big, as in 6-6, 240. He's a big target for any quarterback and was just that against Notre Dame with his three catches for the 33 yards.

He has sure hands and sure feet and he should have had a sure touchdown if Frazer had sold the play action fake a little longer. Ryan had to be dealt with by the Irish because UConn made him an option early and that may have also helped open up a dominant running game.

Anyway, the redshirt freshman, who has 20 catches for 243 yards has proven to the staff he can be counted on in this offense and will be in the future. He's still young and has some work to do according to the head coach but he's shown the potential to be a really good, dependable tight end so far.

"He's not where he needs to be as a blocker but he's getting better and he's understanding how leverage and technique is very, very important," Edsall said. "And again you've got to remember, the kid is a redhsirt freshman. And coming out of New Hampshire, he wasn't real strong, a basketball player, football player, a little bit raw but again another young men who is progressing quite nicely. His better days are still ahead of him if he can stay healthy and he understands what the work ethic is all about in terms of how good he can be by getting bigger and stringer which will also give him confidence. He's progressing but still not where we need him to be, like him to be or where he's going to be."

- Happy Thanksgiving Everybody,

DC

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15 Comments

MC-DC...Good stuff here Dez...A lot of things pointing to a strong team next year. That and starting last year QB's will be recruited to fit Mr. Moreheads style.Should be quite a battle in the spring. I still think the O is not quite as hurry up as they would like. Our FB's are always fun to watch let's not forget Deon still getting it done down in Dallas.
Let's hope for lots of fannies in the seats by the time the team comes on the field. I personally cannot wait to cheer them on for the gutsy performance not just at South Bend but all season long.
Desmond happy thanksgiving to you and your family and our Huskies family everywhere! That goes for your family of Oranges too!

I DVR'ed the game and watched it again numerous times. Gotta get that on a DVD. For the diehards who have been with this team from the beginning this was a special day. This was the payoff for all of the heartache (on and off the field) we've gone through. I can only imagine how those kids and coaches felt. However we can't be satisifed just yet. We have 2 more very winnable home games and a potential bowl. I wouldn't mind going to Birmingham and facing a Georgia or South Carolina. These games are big. If we win out there is a chance we could be ranked in the preseason.

I agree with the take on Wilson. He was all over the place, stuffing the run up the middle and chasing down screens to the sidelines. I said it before the season, Lutrus gets most of the ink and deservedly so, but I think Bama is our best LB.

I saw things in Todman during the Cincy game that led me to believe this kid is ready to explode. I saw nothing in Saturday's game to temper the high expectations. He is going to be a very good player for hopefully 2 more years after this one.

I'm glad you brought up Griffin. I was going to post on his dad's article about how a good a player this kid is gonna be. We've seen some pretty good and productive TE's come through Storrs going all the way back to Brian Kozlowski and more recently Dan Murray and Brouse. This kid has a chance to be the best one. Only had 3 catches Saturday, but they were all big ones.

Hey, we should also note the progress this year of Kashif Moore. Think back to the drop last year against WVU. Remember we were wondering if we had adequate WR's? This kid has come along leaps and bounds from last year. He, also with Mike Smith, Isaiah Moore, Difton, and Lang are gonna be a group to be dealt with in the coming years. Also have some youngsters like Gennerett and Sheppard who have potential. It should be fun the next couple of years.

Dez I am sorry but are gonna smack around the Fruit this Saturday. I am willing to bet there's a part of you inside that just wouldn't mind seeing the Huskies win this Saturday. You are coming along. You will see the light one day. We will lead you there. And according to the ticket sales, the room on the bandwagon is becoming more and more cramped, so you better hurry.

what they should do to ensure a full house til the end of the game is just sell 3/4 tickets for all those thousands who flee after three quarters to beat the traffic---to tailgate some more or race home to watch the rest of the game. the tv shots of the forth quarter
are so bad looking(no matter how hard the tv crews try to NOT show all the empty seats)
they say we have a big time football program ...
what the team need now is a FULLtime fans !!!

Des, great insight as always. It's why I keep coming back. Good to hear from Coach, I agree 100%, as I watch the film too. There is always a need for improvement, from the field to the weight room.
We are young, the future is bright.

I really came here to wish you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving, as well as to all the UConners out there.
Des, if your middle name was Ulysses, you would be a real U. Conner! Try not to root too hard for the Orange. You are a Syracuse guy right?
Two wins in a row have been at a premium for us you know. It would be nice, but nothing has been easy so I would expect nothing less, nor would I want it.
Peace.

Happy Thanksgiving. Just a quick couple of comments and I’d like to get your take on my last one specifically if you have time.

* My crew and I were there for this great weekend. Everything everyone has posted is absolutely right on – ND fans may be the most respectful and classiest folks I have EVER come across at a sporting event – PERIOD!!! Our fans should be made to attend a game at ND to appreciate what I’m talking about.
* I’ve watched the game back a couple of times myself on MSG and I blogged early this week how the Uconn section got no TV coverage. After watching the game back - neither did the ND sections either. I wonder if this just has to do with everything else around the program – which is – it’s all about the game. No real score board, no advertising, no loud music, no fan coverage by camera’s??? I wonder!!!
* This is the idea I’d like to get your comment on as well as maybe a push from you from the inside within the program. Why can’t UC create its own DVD to sell to us fans with the proceeds after production costs going to Jazz’s family? This way anyone who wasn’t there can also have a momento of some kind. Also, what a great gift idea with the holidays upon us. Your thoughts?

Take care and for the rest of the Dog fans – get ready to go bowling!!!

Great comments DC. My friend and I made the trip out to South Bend and...what a game!! Notre Dame fans were great. Classy, respectful, and SOBER. One ND student even offered to walk with us from the stadium to our parking lot (about a 1 mile walk!). I enjoyed every conversation that I had with the Irish fans and hope that UConn fans can emulate that behavior.

Syracuse - can't take them too lightly. They are playing good ball lately. They played WVU tough, should have beaten Louisville and, of course, whipped Rutgers last week. UConn needs this game badly and needs a full house from opening kickoff to the end to be loud.

D-Man...I apologize before hand but Chris' we are going to smack around the fruit cracked me up!
I am not taking this game lightly though, I watched them a few times this year and the Cuse hits hard.
Joe always nice to see you here I wish more parents would chime in. I realize there are many reasons not to do so but I think it further helps to develop the Huskie family. Please continue to bring us the family of a team member perspective.
Frank a lot of good stuff here. UCONN could make up a DVD or pay someone to do it but how much is NBC and ND going to ask for the rights. It's all about the ching, how much will we make vs the cost to do it. I am sure though there will be clips on recruiting videos as of oh say the next day. I love your enthusiasm but let's win a few more games before we talk bowling. For now let us just go out and BEAT Syracuse! ! !

Checking in on the greatest holiday there is to wish everyone and theirs a very Happy Thanksgiving. Great food, family, football, and no worries or stressing out over buying everyone gifts. Does it get any better than that?

I recorded the game on TiVo and have now watched it close to a dozen times including slow motion.

I have to agree with every thing you've said in your analysis with one additional point. The O Line was incredible. At the end of the game they absolutely dominated. Hicks, Hurd, Petrus, Kuraczea, Ryan and Griffin plus I include Sherman since he is involved in the blocking schemes were all fantastic and made possible the great running by Dixon and Todman . The blocking and timing was absolute perfection play after play. I never would have thought that they could handle a team like Notre Dame that gets the highest ranked recruits like that.

One other thing, I felt that the TV announcers Hammonds and Haden were spot on in their analysis during the game. They were balanced, fair and they followed the details of the game really well.

"A Notre Dame male cheerleader got a little feisty after the Dixon game-winner and as the Huskies celebration moved in their director he angrily began nudging the players away. Poor sportsmanship there."... i have said it once, i have said it a million times, Male cheerleaders are no good for anyone.

Happy Black Friday, and hopefully everyones Thanksgiving was full of fun, friends & family and food! As one who won't go near the malls today, I've been watching my DVD of the Notre Dame game again (getting psyched for tomorrow?). I didn't notice it before, but after Todman's kickoff return TD and Notre Dame's three-and-out following that, I heard the UConn fans yelling "Let's Go Huskies" loud and clear! The 4,000 or so fans that were lucky and smart enough to make the trip definitely made the UConn faithful as proud as our football team did. Let's hope for a very loud and very full Rentschler Field tomorrow, and that the fans get in early and stay until the very end and hopefully a win and bowl eligibility! We'll be at the Husky Walk in the morning as well. GO HUSKIES!

Dez came to Connecticut in 1991 and began covering high schools, then UConn football, the NFL, UConn basketball, Big East football, Big East basketball, national college football, national college basketball, the NBA. He has been a beat writer ... read more